Chin and shoulder rest



* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. PEABODY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHIN AND SHOULDER REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,003, dated August 6, 1895. Application filed April 24,1895- Serial No. 547,007- (Nomodeld To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. PEABODY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chin and Shoulder Rests for Violins, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to chin and shoulder rests for violins; and it consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement,

and combination of parts, which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the accompanying drawings, and to the claims hereto appended, and in which my invention is clearly pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan of a small portion of aviolin with my improved rests attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on line so a: on Fig. 1, looking toward the left of said figure. Fig. 4 is a section on line y g on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of the clamp-bar beneath the violin, and Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan and an elevation of the metal nut inclosed in said clamp-bar.

In the drawings, A represents a portion of a violin.

B is the chin-rest; O, the clamp-bar connected to said chin-rest by means of the right and left hand screw-rods a a and b b and the turnbuckle-sleeves c c, as shown.

D is the shoulder-rest removably attached to the clamp-bar O by means of the screw d, the head of which is embedded in the body of said shoulder-rest and the nut e embedded in said clamp-bar O, as shown in Fig. 4..

E represents the rear end of the tail-piece; F, the knob to which it is secured by the cord 0 f. (See Fig. 2.)

The chin-rest B has its upper face concave, with its right-hand end extending over the tail-piece E and curved outward, so as to extend above the top of the violin a distance about double that of its opposite end, and the concave outer face roughened by cuttingtherein two series of parallel grooves intersecting each other, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, to render it less liable to slip. The outward curve or projection of the right-hand end of said rest B is a very important feature, as it enables the player to get a firmer hold upon the violin with the chin when the instrument is inclined to the desired angle for convenient manipulation of the bow.

The rest B bears upon the violin only at the outer edge of its top directly over the hoop and preferably only for a portion of its length and has inserted between it and the instrument a packing g of leather, cork, or other suitable material, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The clamp-bar C also has a packing h of leather, cork, or other suitable material between it and the outer edge of the back of the instrument and has inserted in one end thereof the nut 6, both ends of which are madein the form of frustums of cones, and the middle section thereof is serrated or many-sided to prevent its being revolved within the clampbar, said bar being preferably made of hard rubber and molded directly upon said nut.

The chin-rest B and the shoulder-rest D are also preferably made of hard rubber, and the latter is molded directly upon the screw d, which is prevented from turning therein by the engagement of the rubber with the extralarge slot in its head, as shown.

The shoulder-rest D is made in the form of a knob with a convex outer face, which is roughened in the same manner as the outer concave face of the chin-rest, so as to prevent its slipping upon the clothing, and has inserted between it and the clamp-bar C a packing 2' of leather, cork, or other suitable material, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The shoulder-rest D is arranged to bear upon the collar-bone and may be made of greater or less length to accommodate persous having long 'or short necks and is removed when the instrument is placed in the case. 7

I am aware that chin-rests have been made and used to some extent that were secured to the violin by means of turnbuckles and a IOO and clamp; and a shoulder rest in the form of a circular knob having its outer end face serrated or roughened and removably connected to the outer end of said clamping bar With its axis at right angles to the under face of said bar.

2. In combination with a chin rest for violins a non-metallic clamping bar to engage the back of the instrument, a pair of turn-buckles connecting said chin rest and clamping bar; a metal nut embedded in said non-metallic clamping bar; and a shoulder rest provided with a screw shank to engage said nut and projecting at right angles from the under surface of said clamping" bar, as set forth.

3. The combination or the clamp bar O oi. non -metallic material; a metallic nut embedded therein; the shoulder rest knob D of HENRY O. PEABO'DY.

\Vitnesscs:

N. O. LOMBARD, II. THEODORE FLETCHER. 

